Two apartment buildings in Sidney have been subject to a demolition permit application from a developer who plans to tear them down and build higher-density housing.
Currently, at 9960 and 9972 Third Street, two buildings stand that were built in 1958 by Charles and May Turner. These buildings were dubbed the “Charmay” apartments, a combination of the couples’ names.
Tenants of these buildings claim that the buildings still have good bones, despite being poorly maintained.
“The lack of maintenance of these building [sic] devalues them to support speculative development, such as the development currently proposed to replace the buildings,” wrote the tenants in their petition to the Town of Sidney.
“This is arguably wasteful, and puts more pressure on the need for affordable rental housing.”
The prospective developer, Highstreet Ventures, has applied to tear these buildings down and replace them with a four-storey, 75-unit building.
According to the tenants of the still-standing apartments, a demolition application was given to the Town of Sidney on April 1st, but residents of the impacted buildings were not notified sufficiently.
Furthermore, they claim that residents have not yet been informed of any aid from Sidney’s Tenant Assistance Policy.
This policy was implemented to pay out current tenants when they are evicted so a new purpose-built rental can be built.
The Tenant Assistance Policy clearly states that certain communications must be made with tenants of the current building regarding its progress. The Charmay residents claim this communication is lacking.
Additionally, the policy clearly states what each tenant is entitled to for compensation, which ranges from three-months’ rent to six months’ rent, in a lump-sum.
The residents are asking their neighbours in Sidney to write to the mayor and council to advocate for them, or to sign the ongoing petition to the Town of Sidney.
Despite the claims that they were not offered compensation, and have not been adequately communicated with, the Town of Sidney says due diligence has been done.
“The Town has received an application for a demolition permit for 9960 and 9972 Third Street. The application is being reviewed by staff and has not yet been issued,” said Liam Edwards, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Sidney.
“The property owners have indicated to the Town that they first informed the tenants of their plan to redevelop the property in October 2023, and that in March 2024 they offered compensation to all tenants that is above Provincial requirements and the Town of Sidney’s Tenant Assistance Policy rates.”
Find out more on the tenant’s petition here, and more information on the proposed project is available on Highstreet Ventures’ website, here.
